William Kite was a 19th century circus performer, best known as being the "Mr. Kite" from the Beatles song "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!"[1]
Kite came from a circus family. William Kite was born in Lambeth, London, about 1825. His father, James Kite was a circus proprietor, and the first to visit Knott Mill Fair, Manchester, in 1806. James Kite formed his own company around 1810, travelling as "Kite's Pavilion Circus."[2]
William Kite was a performer at Wells's Circus from 1842 to 1843 and in Pablo Fanque's circus, in Rochdale, in 1843 and 1845.[2] A broadside poster advertising Pablo Fanque’s Circus Royal show in Rochdale, dated February 14, 1843, inspired, and provided many of the lyrics for, The Beatles’ song, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! The poster shows Kite balancing, head down, on top of a pole, playing a trumpet. The poster also notes that Mr. Kite was then ”late of Well’s Circus."[3] Kite was a riding master for Pablo Fanque at this time[2] and the Rochdale poster boasts, “Mr. Kite will, for this night only, introduce the CELEBRATED HORSE, ZANTHUS! Well known to be one of the best Broke Horses IN THE WORLD!!!"[3] The poster also documents that Kite was a tightrope walker, stating, “Mr. KITE will appear, for the first time this season, On The Tight Rope, When Two Gentlemen Amateurs of this Town will perform with him."[3]
A “Miss Kite” also performed in Fanque’s circus, in Burnley, in 1845.[2]
Kite had a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Kite, who also performed in the circus.[2]
Kite was also an all-around performer with John Sanger's Circus.[2]
A fictionalised version of Mr. Kite is portrayed as a ringmaster in a musical sequence from the film based on the music of The Beatles, Across the Universe. He is played by actor and comedian Eddie Izzard.[4]